By Ijeoma UKAZU
Findings show that, Nigeria has no National suicide prevention strategy for its citizenry as well as vulnerable persons as recommended by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
WHO said that, a such strategy is important to elevating suicide prevention on the political agenda of every country with Nigeria inclusive, pointing that, the strategy and associated action plan are key to pushing forward the implementation of suicide prevention.
To bring the rate of suicide to its bearest minimum, experts say, Nigeria should develop, implement and evaluate a comprehensive and sustainable multi-sectoral suicide prevention plan.
The experts added that, it is essential to working towards the ultimate goal of suicide reduction in the country.
Analysts say, the lack of this strategy is not only stalling the management and control efforts of suicide, but fuelling stigmatisation and discrimination of survivors of suicide and their relatives.
WHO said, about 3.0 percent of Nigerians will have thoughts about ending their lives, during their lifetime while some will plan and actually attempt to kill themselves.
Reports say, suicide is one of the top causes of death worldwide, and also a major cause of death in adolescents.
Globally, about 800, 000 suicides happened yearly, while, the suicide rate in Nigeria is at 6.9 per 100, 000 population yearly.
In Lagos, South West Nigeria, according to a Mental Health Survey carried out in 2015, shows that, 7.6 percent of the adult population had had suicidal attempt in the last two weeks and the aged group most involved are 30 years and under.
The survey further said, suicidal attempts are more common among females, while completed incidents are more in males.
While urging the government to establish a National suicide prevention strategy in Nigeria, an official of The Nous Foundation, Lade Olugbemi said, the straty would be able to curb the scourge, stressing that, the country can also sync in line with global suicide prevention community.
She called the government to review
Nigeria’s law on suicide as it a legacy of old laws from the era of British colonization, noting that similar provisions in other African countries criminalize, instead of decriminalizing suicide attempts.
Olugbemi pointed that, Section 327 of the Criminal Code Act, suicide is a crime in Nigeria, punishable by one year imprisonment for a failed suicide attempt, stating that, law on suicide is currently enforced in several states in the country.
She expressed worry that the current Bill on Mental Health and Substance Misuse 2020 has no provision or address the decriminalization of suicide in Nigeria.
In her presentation “Responsible Suicide Reporting, RSR: The Social and Legal Implications” during an online training organised by Health Writers Association of Nigeria, HEWAN in collaboration with The Nous Foundation and The Retreat Healtcare, she stated that, “suicide rates among teenagers increased between year 2007 and 2017,” adding that, Nigeria lacks sufficient data on the subject matter.
However, Olugbemi linked the increase in suicide to the use of social media, “there is an increasing evidence that, the internet and social media can influence suicide-related behaviour. This can be curbed if the media report suicide as a health condition, not crime.
Speaking, the former Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olufemi Olugbile said, during his presentation spoke on, “Why Suicide Should Be Seen As A Mental Health Issue”, that more than 90 percent of people who die from suicide suffer from an associated physical or mental health.
He cautioned the media on responsible reporting as well as desist from idealising suicide as it is likely to lead to copycat suicidal actions.
According to the Consultant Psychiatrist, “social media bullying and modeling, availability of information concerning ways of carrying out the act might increase the likelihood of suicide. Stigma associated with a previous incident might become the reason for suicidal behaviour.”
Olugbile urged the media to desist from reporting suicide from the sensational criminal incident attitude but rather, adopt the approach of reflecting ‘suicide as an illness which is humane, modern and evidence-based approach to suicide reporting.
The Co-author of “The Morning After”, a mental health guide on suicide and reporting of suicide in Nigeria, a trained Psychiatrist, Olufemi Oluwatayo highlighted recommendations for reporting suicide for the media to include; avoiding giving details of the method used; placing the story in prominent part of the paper or news; giving personal details or photographs of the person involved, among others.
Also in his presentation, Co-Author, Mr Martins Ifijeh, called on the media to embrace the World Health Organisation, WHO, guidelines on suicide reporting, desist from sensational suicide reporting as it only triggers more suicidal behaviours.